Chiwenga says current conditions led to Zimbawe's 2017 coup

A confidential document authored by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and presented to Zanu-PF's politburo on September 17 has been leaked, revealing explosive allegations of corruption and party capture by powerful business figures close to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The dossier, obtained by ZimLive, names Kudakwashe Tagwirei, Wicknell Chivhayo, Delish Nguwaya, and Pedzisayi "Scott" Sakupwanya as key actors in what Chiwenga describes as systematic looting of Zimbabwe's state coffers, warning that the current environment mirrors the circumstances that prompted the 2017 military intervention which removed former President Robert Mugabe from power.

In the document, Chiwenga emphasises that the military's Operation Restore Legacy was aimed at protecting the nation from corruption and safeguarding Zanu-PF's foundational values. He wrote that the so-called "2030 Agenda", an initiative to extend Mnangagwa's rule beyond his constitutionally mandated term, is being driven by the same corrupt networks, with bribery and embezzlement at its core.

Chiwenga alleges that the quartet of businessmen siphoned over US$3.2 billion through various schemes, including Tagwirei's acquisition of party shares in Kuvimba Mining House and Great Dyke Investments, Nguwaya's Geo-Pomona contracts, Chivhayo's involvement in the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission scandal, and gold transactions linked to Sakupwanya. The vice president warned that these activities have transformed Mnangagwa's private office into a parallel centre of power, undermining party structures and the constitution.

Demanding immediate action, Chiwenga twice called on Mnangagwa to ensure the arrest of the accused, asserting that the time for inaction had passed. "We cannot allow these criminals who have stolen from our Government coffers and our Party to start using the same resources to bribe fellow comrades and our structures to get their support," he wrote, insisting that the party must reclaim both the state and its own institutions.

The leak marks a significant escalation in Zanu-PF's internal factional battles. Chiwenga, who had anticipated succeeding Mnangagwa in 2023, appears to be positioning himself as a direct challenger to the president, whose allies reportedly favour Tagwirei as a successor. Observers note that the public exposure of these private confrontations reflects a deepening rift within the party, drawing parallels to Mnangagwa's fraught relationship with Mugabe prior to the 2017 coup.

The dossier's release ahead of Zanu-PF's annual conference in Mutare signals a turning point in the ongoing struggle over succession, corruption, and control of the party, and raises questions about the future direction of Zimbabwe's ruling elite. Neither Mnangagwa nor the individuals named in the document have publicly responded to the allegations.